Gabriella Taylor wins the Launceston International on the comeback trail

UNDER PRESSURE: Gabriella Taylor defends the baseline in her win of the women's final against Asia Muhammad.

Little more than 18 months ago, Gabriella Taylor feared she was on her deathbed.

Medical experts were stumped for months on end at her mysterious illness and at one stage authorities – including police – had suspected she had been poisoned in the midst of the 2016 junior Wimbledon championships.

So when the unseeded Brit was spotted every day this week full of smiles, she knew there was something in the air working in her favour.

“It’s been my first time in Tasmania and I really love it,” Taylor said after her 6-3, 6-4 win in the Launceston International final on Sunday.

But the smile dissipates when she recalls the multiple organ failure that was the start of her health woes.

So serious was the condition that Taylor spent four days in intensive care first.

CONCENTRATION: Asia Muhammad waits for Taylor's serve.

“That year I struggled from glandular fever, so I was out for a few months,” she said.